Amanda Zeitler

Amanda Zeitler

Amanda Zeitler is a queer, feminist, DC -based playwright, actor, and occasional producer. She is the winner of the Wichita State University Playwriting Award (2014), runner up for the Kennedy Center Theatre for Young Audiences Award (2015), and a finalist for the Detroit New Works Festival (2019). Notable local productions include Weep. (Nu Sass Theatre) and Neverlanding (Capital Fringe Festival). She has also...
Amanda Zeitler is a queer, feminist, DC -based playwright, actor, and occasional producer. She is the winner of the Wichita State University Playwriting Award (2014), runner up for the Kennedy Center Theatre for Young Audiences Award (2015), and a finalist for the Detroit New Works Festival (2019). Notable local productions include Weep. (Nu Sass Theatre) and Neverlanding (Capital Fringe Festival). She has also been commissioned and produced by the National Archives, Imagination Stage, the Metropolitan School of the Arts, and the Catholic University of America. She is an alumn of Loyola Marymount University (BA, English, Class of 2012) and the Catholic University of America (MFA, Playwriting, Class of 2015).

Plays

  • Weep.
    A modern re-telling of the hispanic folktale "La Llorona" or "The Weeping Woman." Public defense attorney, Andy Walker is assigned a brutal double murder case in which the accused, Marina, is suspected of having drowned her own two children. To make matters more complicated Andy finds out that she is pregnant and has to stave off the constant worry of her former-law-professor-turned-husband...
    A modern re-telling of the hispanic folktale "La Llorona" or "The Weeping Woman." Public defense attorney, Andy Walker is assigned a brutal double murder case in which the accused, Marina, is suspected of having drowned her own two children. To make matters more complicated Andy finds out that she is pregnant and has to stave off the constant worry of her former-law-professor-turned-husband, who encourages her to pass on the case and focus on her health. Much to Andy's chagrin, Marina begins to open up with true-crime podcaster, Simone, sneaks in for an unofficial interview about the incident. As they prepare for trial, the three women slowly open up to each other about motherhood, as well as what it means to be a "criminal" woman.
  • Neverlanding
    Mike Darling is a recently discharged Air Force pilot, who has been involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric facility. As he tries to convince his doctor that he is not a danger to himself, he reveals secrets about his military career, past affairs, and Neverland.
  • The Mage Knights of Eternal Light
    This play has been awarded the second place Kennedy Center New Plays for Young Audiences Award and was listed as one of the 20 Best DC University Productions in 2015 by DC Metro Theatre Arts.

    After the untimely death of her father, teenage Dawn begins reading his favorite fantasy series in order to escape her pain. Her obsession with the books soon overtakes her life and causes damage to her...
    This play has been awarded the second place Kennedy Center New Plays for Young Audiences Award and was listed as one of the 20 Best DC University Productions in 2015 by DC Metro Theatre Arts.

    After the untimely death of her father, teenage Dawn begins reading his favorite fantasy series in order to escape her pain. Her obsession with the books soon overtakes her life and causes damage to her relationships with family and friends. When the characters from the books (both heroes and villains) magically appear in her bedroom, the damage escalates, and Dawn must decide to either deal with her real world problems or escape into the magical land of her books forever.
  • We Are the Demons Inside Our Bodies
    It’s Halloween and Edi has invited her college friends Piper and Mia over for a spooky night of
    horror movies, drinks, and Ouija. Things get off to a rocky start when Mia unexpectedly brings
    Kennedy, her new girlfriend, along. The group muscles through their awkwardness as best they
    can and try to commune with the dead via spirit board. As they establish content and receive
    ...
    It’s Halloween and Edi has invited her college friends Piper and Mia over for a spooky night of
    horror movies, drinks, and Ouija. Things get off to a rocky start when Mia unexpectedly brings
    Kennedy, her new girlfriend, along. The group muscles through their awkwardness as best they
    can and try to commune with the dead via spirit board. As they establish content and receive
    foreboding messages, Edi’s roommate, Francesca, comes home early from her bartending job.
    Francesca freaks out about the board and puts a stop to party game before attempting to go to
    bed. The rest of the party tries to play truth or dare to pass the time, until Piper reveals that they
    used to date Mia. Mia and Kennedy try to leave, but find the door to the apartment locked and
    things take a turn for the scary. Each person begins to experience demonic oppression that
    somehow seems linked to their personal fears or insecurities, including Francesca. As their fear
    grows, they begin to turn on each other. Piper locks Kennedy in the bathroom and Francesca
    even suggests killing her. Despite Francesca’s protests, Edi attempts to use the Ouija board again
    to see if the dead have any answers. In a fury, Francesca reveals that she is a demon, feeding on
    the self-doubt of the group and that the ghosts reaching out via Ouija are actually the spirits of
    her past victims/roommates. The group eventually are able to banish Francesca with the strength
    of their self-confidence and belief in each other.
  • Miranda After the Storm, or What Happens to Savage Little Whores
    In this contemporary epilogue to Shakespeare's "Tempest" we find out what happens to Miranda after she and her father leave the island and return to Naples. In her training to become a lady and a princess, Miranda struggles to abandon her "savage" ways and follow the strictures of the court, until an assault from Ferdinand causes her to flee back to the safety of her real home.
  • The Highwayman
    Marianne becomes the famous bandit "The Highwayman" in this adaptation of Alfred Noyes' poem. Marianne and Bess are sisters struggling to keep their family business afloat. When Lord Thomas proposes marriage to Marianne, she declines, wounding his pride. With his great power and influence, he threatens to destroy the sister's livelihood. Marianne blackmails her friend James into teaching...
    Marianne becomes the famous bandit "The Highwayman" in this adaptation of Alfred Noyes' poem. Marianne and Bess are sisters struggling to keep their family business afloat. When Lord Thomas proposes marriage to Marianne, she declines, wounding his pride. With his great power and influence, he threatens to destroy the sister's livelihood. Marianne blackmails her friend James into teaching her how to fight and then takes up a Robin Hood-like persona in order to keep protect herself and her sister from ruin.
  • The Pencil is Mightier
    Music & Lyrics by Jonathan Kirby

    Jenny and her four older sisters have just moved to another new town and are trying desperately to fit in with the "cool kids," when they hear rumors of a girl who disappeared in their apartment complex. In an effort to prove herself, Jenny ventures into the attic where the disappearance occurred, only to discover a magical pencil that can open a...
    Music & Lyrics by Jonathan Kirby

    Jenny and her four older sisters have just moved to another new town and are trying desperately to fit in with the "cool kids," when they hear rumors of a girl who disappeared in their apartment complex. In an effort to prove herself, Jenny ventures into the attic where the disappearance occurred, only to discover a magical pencil that can open a portal to a fantasy world and bring any drawing to life. Jenny and her sister meet the ruler of this fantasy world, Nebulous, who promises to grant their wishes if they stay in the fantasy world. But when Jenny discovers that Nebulous is not the benevolent leader she claims, Jenny must illicit help from the school bullies in order to save her sisters from being erased out of existence!
  • Unlabeled
    In a fantastical kingdom (that is not so far away from our world as we would like to think), there lives a King who has the power to Label every child in his realm. A child's Label determines the course of their life - for good or ill. When Ruby is thrown into the dungeon for being unable to accept her Label, she and a group of rebels plot to discover the source of this wicked magic and get rid of the...
    In a fantastical kingdom (that is not so far away from our world as we would like to think), there lives a King who has the power to Label every child in his realm. A child's Label determines the course of their life - for good or ill. When Ruby is thrown into the dungeon for being unable to accept her Label, she and a group of rebels plot to discover the source of this wicked magic and get rid of the Labeling system forever.

    Two versions of this script exist - one for a large cast (up to 23) and one for a smaller cast (8). Attached draft features parts for 23 students.
  • Sidewalk Conversations
    On her very first day as a sidewalk counselor, Rebecca encounters her classmate Shannon, who is on her way in for "an operation." The awkward encounter turns into a moment of compassion as the two take a moment to understand what it's like on the other side of the picket line.
  • Bite Me
    Sean S. Shark (a shark) is forced to deal with prejudice and stereotypes while attempting to sign up for swimming lessons at his local community pool.
  • A Dark and Stormy Play
    Prospera and her daughter Miranda seek vengeance on her evil brother, Anton, after he and his crew are stranded on a deserted island. This short, contemporary adaptation of Shakespeare's "The Tempest" features waffles, vengeance, and several forgotten characters.
  • Drawing Vick
    A young woman attempts to reconcile her conflicting emotions about her abusive lover'suicide. She resurrects the dead through the power of art, in order to put herself to rest.
  • Greenies
    A pilot crashes on a barren planet inhabited only by an unnamed woman and her "greenies." She jealously guards the water that he needs until he takes it by force. The greenies get revenge.
  • The Woebegone Misadventures of Wayne the Wank: A Psuedo-Picaresque
    Co-written with Seth Rosenke

    After a wrongful conviction and sentence of 6 months in sex addicts anonymous, Wayne is approached by a member of a secret BDSM/kink/fetish lifestyle club/support group. Wayne is pulled into a plethora of wacky misadventures as he gets to know members of the group and learns to accept his kinks and let his freak flag fly.
  • The Creatures of I.L.M.S.
    Fantastical Halloween creatures gather for their weekly "I Lost My Scare" (ILMS) support group meeting. They discuss the reasons people no longer find them frightening and plot to regain their status as terrifying creatures of the night!
  • On the Rocks
    Anne and Melody, two estranged half-sisters, are reunited when Melody unexpectedly shows up on her older sister's doorstep. They reminisce about life and family, but under the surface tension boils until their anger at past wrongs overflows and they lash out at each other, revealing painful secrets.
  • The Butterfly Fan, or the Menace of the Magazine Ghost
    Grace learns that fame and fortune are not all they are cracked up to be after she utilizes the magical powers of the Magazine Ghost to become a super model.
  • Collide-o-Scope
    What do telepathic twins, a film crew, a time traveling space princess, ghosts, a robot dog (or is it a cat?) and seemingly normal groups of siblings all have in common? They're not really sure either, but when a time traveling ship from the year 4207 crash lands in the present, they all somehow end up in the same hotel. But they must beware! Space Princess Skylar is on a mission to take over the world...
    What do telepathic twins, a film crew, a time traveling space princess, ghosts, a robot dog (or is it a cat?) and seemingly normal groups of siblings all have in common? They're not really sure either, but when a time traveling ship from the year 4207 crash lands in the present, they all somehow end up in the same hotel. But they must beware! Space Princess Skylar is on a mission to take over the world and she won't let anyone stand in her way! Kids from the past, present and future must learn to listen to each other and work together if they have any chance of stopping her!